Certificate Programs
Gain a competitive edge by earning a certificate.
Develop your skills in a particular area by earning an optional certificate in addition to your major.
Entrepreneurship Certificate
The Entrepreneurship certificate complements a wide range of fields, including business, engineering, social sciences, and the arts. Students gain the skills to turn ideas into viable ventures, whether launching a startup, creating a social enterprise, or driving innovation within an existing organization. The program builds practical competencies in opportunity recognition, new venture planning, social innovation, and business development.
The Certificate in Entrepreneurship requires 3 courses (9 credits) and is open to all undergraduate students at UM-Dearborn who meet admission criteria. With no prerequisites and flexible course options, the certificate is accessible to students from any major who want to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and real-world experience in venture creation and growth.
Students who want deeper preparation for entrepreneurial careers, or who wish to combine entrepreneurship with another discipline, may also apply these courses toward related majors, minors, or other stackable credentials in innovation and business development.
The certificate in Entrepreneurship is available to current UM-Dearborn undergraduate students:
- Open to any UM-Dearborn undergraduate student with a GPA of at least 2.0.
- Must declare the Entrepreneurship certificate by submitting the Declaration of Certificate to their academic unit office.
(3 courses/9 credits)
ENT 400 – Entrepreneurial Thinking and Behavior
Choose two from the following:
ENT 401 – New Venture Planning
ENT 403 – Social Entrepreneurship
ENT 410 – Business Development & Enterprise Growth
Goal 1: Students will apply a working knowledge of the principles of entrepreneurship to analysis and problem solving. Objectives: Students will be able to:
- Creatively analyze the business environment for opportunities
- Recognize problems and convert them into opportunities
Goal 2: Students will understand how to apply entrepreneurial techniques in an organizational setting. Objectives: Students will be able to:
- Use the entrepreneurial mindset in various business settings
- Apply the concepts of entrepreneurship in their chosen field of work
Goal 3: Students will gain an understanding of the steps that might take in their own entrepreneurial pursuits. Objectives: Students will be able to:
- Identify local resources for starting their own entrepreneurial ventures
Certificate in Financial Planning
The Financial Planning certificate complements a number of fields, such as finance, marketing, accounting, and economics. Gain the tools and skills you need to familiarize yourself with tasks such as personal financial planning, investment planning, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, and risk management.
The Certificate in Financial Planning requires 4 courses (12 credits). It is open to all undergraduate students at UM-Dearborn who meet the admission criteria.
Students interested in preparing for the professional financial planning examinations may wish to complete the Financial Planning minor, which includes the courses in this certificate program.
The certificate in Financial Planning is available to current UM-Dearborn undergraduate students:
- Open to any UM-Dearborn undergraduate student with a GPA of at least 2.0.
- Must declare the Financial Planning certificate by submitting the Declaration of Certificate to their academic unit office.
(4 courses/12 credits)
FIN 411 - Financial and Insurance Planning Fundamentals
FIN 412 - Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
Choose two from the following:
ACC 360 - Federal Income Taxation
FIN 407 - Investment Fundamentals
MKT 434 - Sales Management and Personal Selling
Note that the required courses have a prerequisite (FIN 401). This course is required of College of Business students but would be an addition to the 12 credit requirement for most students not in the College of Business.
Goal 1: Students will explain the components of financial planning.
Goal 2: Students will be able to develop a retirement savings plan for an individual.
Goal 3: Students will describe an ethics framework for a personal financial planner.
Sales Certificate
The Sales certificate complements a wide range of fields, including marketing, management, entrepreneurship, engineering, communications, and economics. Build the practical skills needed to excel in roles that require selling ideas, building relationships, negotiating agreements, or driving business growth. Students develop competencies in professional selling, negotiation, customer relationship management (CRM), and strategic business development, skills that are highly valued across industries.
The Certificate in Sales requires 3 courses (9 credits) and is open to all undergraduate students at UM-Dearborn who meet admission criteria. Each course has no prerequisites and offers immediate, workplace-ready value, whether students pursue marketing, account management, entrepreneurship, or technical fields where client engagement is essential.
Students seeking deeper preparation for careers in sales or business development may also choose to apply these courses toward related majors or minors in the College of Business.
The certificate in Sales is available to current UM-Dearborn undergraduate students:
- Open to any UM-Dearborn undergraduate student with a GPA of at least 2.0.
- Must declare the Sales certificate by submitting the Declaration of Certificate to their academic unit office.
(3 courses/9 credits)
MKT 434 - Personal Selling
OB 407 - Negotiations
ENT 410 - Business Development and Enterprise Growth
Goal 1: Students will explain core interpersonal sales techniques, including prospecting, needs assessment, communicating value, and adapting to various sales approaches.
Goal 2: Students will be able to apply tactical sales and negotiation strategies to structure and close deals, resolve conflicts, and create value that supports organizational growth.
Goal 3: Students will analyze and utilize strategic tools and frameworks—such as CRM systems, analytics, and partnership models—to drive long-term, technology-enabled enterprise growth.